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Clippers wait for Chauncey Billups' MRI results

February 7, 2012 | 12:10
pm

Chauncey Billups went to get an MRI on his injured left Achilles' tendon on Tuesday at a local Cleveland hospital, and the Clippers were still waiting for the results after they finished practice on the Cavaliers’ practice court.

The hope among the players and coaching staff was that Billups, 35, didn’t suffer a season-ending torn Achilles.

“All I can say is that it was very quiet in the locker room and very quiet on the bus and very quiet on the plane because everyone knows how important Chauncey is and how much they respect him and what he brings to the team,” Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro said after practice Tuesday. “You feel bad for him more than anything. So, we’ll see what the results are and go from there.”

Del Negro said that he’ll start Randy Foye at shooting guard Wednesday night against the Cavaliers and continue to bring Mo Williams off the bench.

“Now they are going to need me more than ever,” Foye said after practice. “I’m ready.”

That gives the Clippers room to sign a free agent -– perhaps someone like J.R. Smith after he becomes eligible to play in the NBA after the season is over for his Zhejiang Golden Bulls team in the Chinese Basketball Assn.